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The jury will retire to consider its verdict after Judge Paul Ramsey finishes delivering his charge
Jeffrey Donaldson arriving at Newry Crown Court on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA)
Jonathan McCambridge, Press Association
A judge has begun summarising the evidence in the sexual offences trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.
The jury will retire to consider its verdict after Judge Paul Ramsey finishes delivering his charge.
The 63-year-old former MP has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.
The charges include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a period between 1985 and 2008 involving two alleged victims.
Donaldson, wearing a dark grey suit and a pink tie, sat in the dock at the back of the court with his arms folded while the judge delivered his remarks.
The judge told the jury: “We are now reaching the closing stages of the trial.”
He said the jurors had to be satisfied that the prosecution had proven the case against Donaldson beyond reasonable doubt before they could convict.
Complainants A and B have both given evidence at the trial.
Both women allege they were abused as children.
Donaldson spent two days giving evidence during the trial.
His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, from Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending.
She is facing a trial of the facts on mental health grounds.
The trial of the facts will test the evidence in the case but cannot result in a criminal conviction.
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